Summer 2025 Issue Preview

What You’ll Find Inside: Summer Issue 2025


With the summer weather upon us, Bourbon+ is taking a look at the cocktails, recipes, and different ways to enjoy your bourbon and whiskey in the heat of the season. Many people believe that bourbon or whiskey is a winter drink, but the pages in this issue prove that the spirit can be enjoyed all year round.

For our cover, we tapped mixologist and innovator Kenneth Vanhooser to take us into the summer months with delicious bourbon and whiskey cocktails. Vanhooser, who has 20+ years of experience and is based in Nashville, is not only passionate about his craft and the intricacies it takes to build a cocktail, but he also has had quite a journey that brought him to his current position. We visited Kenneth at Present Tense and got a glimpse into what it takes to create a cocktail that quenches your thirst during the hot summer months.

In this issue, we take you on a tour around Houston, Texas, sharing the people, places, and cocktails that make up the city and its surrounding areas. We shine a spotlight on Montrose, The Heights, and Downtown/Midtown Houston, introducing Houston’s whiskey scene and the city’s first legal distillery, Yellow Rose Distilling.

We stepped out of the bourbon and whiskey world for a minute to visit Winderlea Vineyards in the Willamette Valley,a location that is becoming renowned for its production of fine wine. It never hurts to branch out into the plus part of Bourbon+. However, we quickly returned to what we are most familiar with by sharing stories from Chef Matt Bolus of The 404 Kitchen, who prepares fine dining dishes with the help of whiskey and bourbon.

We discovered a one-of-a-kind whiskey experience that combines the best in Tennessee whiskey with spirited tunes to blend listening and sipping in a single event. One of our writers was fortunate to be selected to be a part of Four Roses ‘ private barrel selection. He gives us an inside look at what it entails to be one of 10 tasters given the honor of selecting three barrels for the Mellow Moments Club.

There is so much going on in the bourbon world that I’d like to make our readers aware of our very own Bourbon+community. We recently hosted a party (which you can check out on page 18) at The 404 Kitchen in Nashville, inviting industry leaders and our subscribers. It was an evening to remember as whiskey lovers—enthusiasts and newcomers alike—mingled with spirit industry titans at an exclusive happy hour event hosted by Bourbon+ magazine. Held at Gerties’ Whiskey Library at The 404 Kitchen in Nashville, TN, the event aimed to connect Bourbon+ subscribers with industry leaders for a night of curated pours, specialty cocktails, and small bites while exploring a library of over 700 whiskeys. Become a part of our community by subscribing to Bourbon+ at bourbonplus.com and get invited to our next pour.

Cheers!

Cover Photo by Orchee Sorker

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